With the Coming of the Holidays

[SoulRaven]

Any excuse to be happy, be with friends or loved ones, and bring a little cheer to others brings joy to my heart as well.

 

[compassrose]

... This year I will be doing the turkey for my kids...  They had better watch and learn how to cook as this is their last chance!

If they can't or don't want to learn to cook, then they can either buy a complete meal already cooked (requires a little planning to get it pre-ordered by a certain date) or they can make reservations at a restaurant. Either way, I'm sure they will survive.

 

[buckwilk]

I like the holidays because they give me another reason to do things for others. I have had times when me got in the way of my enjoyment of life. When I realized that I was the captain of this ship I made an effort to start thinking of others and doing for others. This has improved my life in ways I never would have imagined. There is truly nothing better than seeing the look of joy, happiness and surprise on peoples faces when you do something unexpected for them. That makes me rich beyond belief.

 

[B and C]

Every now and then, we enjoy picking up the tab of some young family at a restaurant (we don't eat out THAT often).  You can tell they are strapped and this is a special outing.  We will pickup their tab/tip and ask the waiter to not identify us.  This can occur at any time of the year.

Hmmm, the holiday's.....

I have two brothers and a sister.  We are now spread out and our mother is still with us.  She is 93 and living in a Georgia rest home where she went after my sister and BIL could no longer care for her.  My oldest brother is in the Orlando area and my other brother is in North Texas.  I normally only talk to my brother in Texas and my sister.  I have not been able to carry on a conversation with my brother in Florida in decades.  I try to go see my mother twice a year.  I don't know how that is going to work now that my heart is in the Rockies.

We will come back to Texas for Thanksgiving and Christmas to spend time with our son and his family.  May have to work a trip to Georgia between those two holidays.

Plans in jello..............

 

[LeeRevell]

There are precooked smoked turkeys that simply need warmed, to make your holiday meal.  Add some easy stuffing and sides and you got a good holiday dinner!  One year Dad did a precooked "Cajun" turkey.  Man, was that a good bird!  
By myself I am satisfied with a couple smoked turkey wing butts - the "front drumsticks" as I call them.

 

[eDJ_]

You know just the other day I was looking at a 3 lb Boneless Turkey Breast for about $10 and thinking of
smoking it in my smoker.   Then I went over to another section of the refrigeration cases and saw sliced
smoke Turkey in the 1 Lb package ready to eat for $3 bucks. 

I couldn't smoke it that cheap and then I'd have more than I could store and eat.

It really is a challenge to cook for one without waste. 

I've found plastic multi fit plastic lids for Cat Food cans at the store to use here at home.  And any time
I can find plastic can lids I'll pickup some in the store and see just what sizes of cans they will fit.   Otherwise
I'm using plastic wrap and rubber bands to reseal half empty cans of food. 

I often prepare the whole can of say,  green peas, green beans, yellow hominy, mixed veggies, etc
and return to the can what I don't eat at that meal.  Then I can reheat them for the next meal without
really having to do any cooking.  Cook once eat twice. 

So a pack of smoked Turkey,  an envelope of instant mashed potatoes, resealable jar of Heinz gravy,
can of jelled cranberry sauce, and can of Green Beans, can of Yams, some brown and serves from the store, and  a box of Stove Top Turkey stuffing could make for a Thanks Giving banquet for one and leftovers for another meal and some Turkey Sandwiches to boot.  All for less than $10 dollars with no waste.

And you could do it again at Christmas and use a package of sliced Ham for something different.   Perhaps a can of Spam cooked up in a glaze made from Pineapple sundae topping mixed with some Orange marmalade.

 

[buckwilk]

eDJ, what time is dinner and what kind of wine are you serving, I'm partial to Chardonnay.

 

[eDJ_]

LOL,  On that Chardonnay,  I'm still experimenting with mixing a bit of Grenadine syrup into some lemon lime &
ginger ale to get the right balance. I'm continuing to work with the apple juice and vanilla extract ratios at this time.  But I may have to make the final cut with some soda water if it's still too sweet.

eDJ's mock Chardonnay for the campgrounds what don't allow no alcohol.


When I geter right,  dinner will be served. 

 

[buckwilk]

Now you have imagination !

 

[compassrose]

You know just the other day I was looking at a 3 lb Boneless Turkey Breast for about $10 and thinking of
smoking it in my smoker.   Then I went over to another section of the refrigeration cases and saw sliced
smoke Turkey in the 1 Lb package ready to eat for $3 bucks. 

I couldn't smoke it that cheap and then I'd have more than I could store and eat.

That is basically what I figured out about those fat rotisserie chickens that Sam's Club sells. The cooked chicken is running 5lbs in pure meat (I debone the little gems) for $4.98. I don't have to cook them as they are already cooked. Sometimes it pays to triple check and price out your options.

 

[Queen]

In our little household I'm the one who enjoys the season, people seem nicer to one another. We don't do presents or anything, I just like my little 1' tall tree that I've wrapped in a string of 100 lights, it makes me smile.

 

[cyndi]

I would be depressed if I spent the holidays near Quartzsite in a treeless barren windy dusty landscape 

I'm sad for you, that you're so easily depressed and unable to find the silver linings n things.

An autumn or winter holiday, in Quartzsite, would include the awesome company of so many wonderful and like-minded people, glorious sunrises and sunsets, plenty of good food and so much more.


Also, a reminder that in the desert, with no moisture in the airand a cloudless sky 60-65 degrees feels more like 70.

 

[compassrose]

... in the desert, with no moisture in the air and a cloudless sky 60-65 degrees feels more like 70.

"It's a dry heat". "It's a dry cold"... yep heard that one. Bull. I loathe NM. If I ever get out of here, I do not see a return trip in my future.

 

[ryegal]

I hang lights in my r.v.  and I have friends over when I 'am on the desert. Like now when I am at home with friends and family I enjoy it also a lot different this year

 

[eDJ_]

Compassrose  wrote:

eDJ_ Wrote: You know just the other day I was looking at a 3 lb Boneless Turkey Breast for about $10 and thinking of
smoking it in my smoker.   Then I went over to another section of the refrigeration cases and saw sliced
smoke Turkey in the 1 Lb package ready to eat for $3 bucks. 

I couldn't smoke it that cheap and then I'd have more than I could store and eat.
That is basically what I figured out about those fat rotisserie chickens that Sam's Club sells. The cooked chicken is running 5lbs in pure meat (I debone the little gems) for $4.98. I don't have to cook them as they are already cooked. Sometimes it pays to triple check and price out your options.

My Dad used  to travel in his Van a lot and was explaining to me how he would buy a bucket of KFC.  He thought it kept well,  and provided immediate food as he drove some of those long road trips of his.   I still make his  Chicken Ala King recipe when I have a left over fried breast that I can debone and dice up.  With a few slices of toast or a roll of biscuits baked that will extend a couple more meals. 

Here at the house I use those rotisserie birds I find marked down at some of the Grocery Stores in my area.
Just gotta be there around 3:30 Pm when they mark them down an put them out.  About the same deal
as you get at Sam's.  But I can do Chicken Hash, or Chicken Chop Suey in the wok with the pulled scraps.
Or Chicken Enchiladas  and Chicken Parmesan if I use the oven.  But I could make these at camp with a Dutch Oven or a Wok  in my galley kit.

 

[LeeRevell]

Yep, I can make three or four meals from a $7 fried chicken or rotisserie chicken from Publix Grocery.  Not a bad deal.
Also frozen burritos - less than five bucks for eight of them, two make a meal.

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

Other than buying something for my grand children, I stopped participating in most holidays. I used to get real depressed over them but then I decided I had a choice in it. The colder weather, (gloomy, rainy, and cold), of TN gets to me around Christmas. I miss Florida every winter and seeing blue skies but it isn't really Christmas that makes me sad.... it's this gloomy weather

Meeting up with other van dwellers on holidays is something I would do though. Mostly because I am a people person and love meeting new people. I think that is a great idea.

 

[SaltySeaWitch]

"An autumn or winter holiday, in Quartzsite, would include the awesome company of so many wonderful and like-minded people, glorious sunrises and sunsets, plenty of good food and so much more".

Cyndi.....Now that is a holiday atmosphere I would enjoy very much. Just like minded people and warm weather

 

[mockturtle]

Hope to see you there!  

 

[Ella1]

... I was looking at a 3 lb Boneless Turkey Breast for about $10 and thinking of smoking it in my smoker. I couldn't smoke it that cheap and then I'd have more than I could store and eat. Then I went over to another section of the refrigeration cases and saw sliced smoke Turkey in the 1 Lb package ready to eat for $3 bucks. 

Costco has a "family pack", ~$10, turkey and trimmings. I plan to get one in early December. I will repackage it to serving sizes, as I'm just me, too. Maybe I'll have some friends over. I imagine there's at least 5 satisfying meals in it. I also get the 1 pound packages, for 4-5 meals.

I've found plastic multi fit plastic lids for Cat Food cans at the store to use here at home. ...Otherwise I'm using plastic wrap and rubber bands to reseal half empty cans of food.   

I think it's PETCO that has silicone can lids in their dog food area. They fit at least 3 different sizes of cans. I think they're about $3, but they are nice. I use a bit of wax paper between can and lid to help keep the lid clean. Haven't found one that fits tuna fish cans yet. I need to get the jellied cranberry sauce--i forgot it!

So a pack of smoked Turkey,...  a box of Stove Top Turkey stuffing could make for a Thanks Giving banquet for one and leftovers for another meal and some Turkey Sandwiches to boot.  All for less than $10 dollars with no waste.  

Sounds like a few tasty meals. Enjoy!

And you could do it again at Christmas and use a package of sliced Ham for something different.   Perhaps a can of Spam cooked up in a glaze made from Pineapple sundae topping mixed with some Orange marmalade.  

Good plan!